Gisborne Judo Club’s Sydnee Andrews dominant in open company

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Gisborne Judo Club’s Sydnee Andrews came up against opponents who were “unknown quantities” at the Auckland International Open Judo Championship, but she still dominated her division.

Andrews was part of a small Gisborne team competing in the event last weekend.

She won the junior women’s over-78-kilogram division.

Teammates Cleo Parkin, in the junior girls’ u36kg division, and competition newby Trelise Blackwell, in the junior girls’ u28kg division, also won gold medals.

Corbyn Wilson was the club’s only male gold medallist, going into a heavier division — the junior boys’ u45kg — for his success.

The results augur well for the North Island championships at Raumati Beach in four weeks.

Caleb Jones-King passed his black belt grading. His father Jason King was his “uke” (partner). Caleb is the grandson of the late Dave King, and is a third-generation black belt for the family.

Lincoln Sycamore passed the examination for a National A Referee Licence.

Gisborne competitors’ results —

Cadet women, under-63kg: Ella Kelso 3rd.

Junior women, over-78kg: Sydnee Andrews 1st.

Junior men, u81kg: Caleb Jones-King 2nd. U90kg: Thomas Mackenzie 2nd.

Junior girls, u36kg: Cleo Parkin 1st. U28kg: Trelise Blackwell 1st.

Junior boys, u45kg: Corbyn Wilson 1st.